The most important thing to do when practicing these exercises is to always keep your strumming arm moving. The strumming arm should constantly be moving in an up-down pattern. Always. Even if you don't actually have to strum the guitar on those beats, your arm still moves as if you were. Not only does this constant motion make strumming the guitar easier, but it also acts as your own metronome enabling you to stay in time with the music better. Take a look at the following.
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + (Repeat over and over)
The above is a representation of the beats in music. The numbers (1, 2, 3 and 4), are the downbeats. These are the beats that you typically tap you feet and nod your head too. On the guitar, these are the beats that you move your strumming arm with a downstroke. The plus signs between the downbeats are called the upbeats. These are the beats that you typically lift your foot from the floor after you tap your foot. On the guitar, this is when you apply the upstroke.
If your having trouble counting the figure, literally say the number on the downbeats and for the upbeats say 'and'. This practice is common across all musicians in all music styles. It would sound like this.
Beats: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Count: One and Two and Three and Four and
By adding a D (for downstroke) and U (for upstrokes), we now have representation on when to actually strum the guitar and what type of stroke we strum it with. In the following example, we strum the guitar on every down and up beat.
D U D U D U D U
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
The above example is a good place to start because you arm is constantly moving. In the next example, you only strum the first downstroke. Remember that while your only strumming once, your arm should constantly move in the up-down motion. While this example is not practical (you would never see nor should you see somebody keep the up-down motion when they only have to strum once), it at least trains the guitarist to always keep the up-down motion.
D
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
I hope by now you realize the importance of keeping your strumming arm always moving in the up-down motion. The next example is finally a practical example of this. This strumming pattern is used in countless songs heard all day on the radio.
D D U U D U
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Almost every stroke should be strummed. Only two strokes are ommitted. That being the 1st upstroke and the 3rd downstroke. This example makes it exceptionally clear why you need a constant up-down motion in your strumming arm. Played any other way would sound choppy, plus your strumming arm acts as your own metronome giving you a sense of time.
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + (Repeat over and over)
The above is a representation of the beats in music. The numbers (1, 2, 3 and 4), are the downbeats. These are the beats that you typically tap you feet and nod your head too. On the guitar, these are the beats that you move your strumming arm with a downstroke. The plus signs between the downbeats are called the upbeats. These are the beats that you typically lift your foot from the floor after you tap your foot. On the guitar, this is when you apply the upstroke.
If your having trouble counting the figure, literally say the number on the downbeats and for the upbeats say 'and'. This practice is common across all musicians in all music styles. It would sound like this.
Beats: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Count: One and Two and Three and Four and
By adding a D (for downstroke) and U (for upstrokes), we now have representation on when to actually strum the guitar and what type of stroke we strum it with. In the following example, we strum the guitar on every down and up beat.
D U D U D U D U
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
The above example is a good place to start because you arm is constantly moving. In the next example, you only strum the first downstroke. Remember that while your only strumming once, your arm should constantly move in the up-down motion. While this example is not practical (you would never see nor should you see somebody keep the up-down motion when they only have to strum once), it at least trains the guitarist to always keep the up-down motion.
D
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
I hope by now you realize the importance of keeping your strumming arm always moving in the up-down motion. The next example is finally a practical example of this. This strumming pattern is used in countless songs heard all day on the radio.
D D U U D U
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Almost every stroke should be strummed. Only two strokes are ommitted. That being the 1st upstroke and the 3rd downstroke. This example makes it exceptionally clear why you need a constant up-down motion in your strumming arm. Played any other way would sound choppy, plus your strumming arm acts as your own metronome giving you a sense of time.
Comments
Post a Comment